CVE-2023-5818 in Amazonify Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
The Amazonify plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 0.8.1. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the amazonifyOptionsPage() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update the plugins settings, including the Amazon Tracking ID, via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The CVE-2023-5818 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the Amazonify WordPress plugin, affecting all versions through 0.8.1. This vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the plugin's administrative interface, specifically targeting the amazonifyOptionsPage() function that handles configuration settings. The flaw fundamentally undermines the plugin's ability to authenticate legitimate administrative actions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate critical system parameters without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the absence of proper nonce validation mechanisms within the plugin's settings update handler. A nonce is a cryptographic token that ensures requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions and prevents unauthorized modifications to system configurations. When this validation is missing or incorrectly implemented, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's administrative settings page where users can configure their Amazon tracking IDs and other integration parameters, making it particularly dangerous for e-commerce operations that rely on proper tracking configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it allows attackers to modify critical tracking identifiers that directly affect business operations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could change the Amazon Tracking ID to redirect affiliate commissions to their own accounts, potentially resulting in significant financial losses for the site owner. Additionally, the modification of tracking parameters could disrupt analytics reporting and affect the accuracy of performance metrics that businesses rely on for decision-making processes. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior access to the administrative interface is required, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for widely used plugins.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software applications. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.002, which covers privilege escalation through exploitation of application vulnerabilities. Organizations using the Amazonify plugin are at risk of unauthorized configuration changes that could lead to data integrity issues, financial losses, and potential compromise of business-critical tracking systems. The attack vector relies on social engineering tactics to trick administrators into clicking malicious links, making it particularly challenging to defend against through traditional network security measures alone.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that implement proper nonce validation mechanisms. Site administrators must ensure they are running the latest stable version of the plugin, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases. Additional protective measures include implementing strict access controls for administrative interfaces, monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes, and educating administrators about the risks of clicking untrusted links. Network security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious requests attempting to modify plugin settings. Regular security audits of installed plugins and themes remain essential for identifying similar vulnerabilities that could compromise system integrity and business operations.